Real-Life Heroes

These people are very dear friends, and also some of the most heroic Jesus-followers I know.

Check out the first post on their blog: http://schummexplosion.blogspot.com/2013/01/2-411-1-1-1-5-schumm-family.html.

That is all.

Burning Out

As someone who experienced painful burnout periods no less than three times in his (admittedly short) adult life, I found this blog post refreshing and spot-on: When the Soul Needs Rest, by my Hutch-friend Jen.

This part hit especially (not "expecially" -- never, ever, EVER "expecially"!) close to home:

Rest is hard for me. It's hard because I want to be doing, accomplishing, making, participating... all kinds of -ings. I know I need it to function correctly, but at the same time, I hate missing things or letting people down

And yet our Creator made us to need rest. He modeled a rest-day immediately after creating us, and woe to those who are so enamored with all the -ings that they forget to follow His example.

Blessed are those who find rest, even in the face of Valuable Things that need to be accomplished.

Capitol Craze 5k Obstacle Run

This weekend, I ran* in the Capitol Craze 5k Obstacle Run. It was amazingly muddy, wet, and cold. I can't remember having a better time running. If waterslides, mud pits, and ridiculously steep hills in 30-degree weather are your idea of fun, you should have been there.

I loved it.

Here's a picture that does a pretty good job of capturing how it felt. The granola bar was delicious, but a little muddy-tasting.

*By "ran," I mean "jogged as quickly as a fat, out-of-shape IT guy can."